The influence of early handling on the behavioural reaction of foals at 2 months of age

Abstract

Early experience is well known to strongly condition adult behavior and contact with humans is a determinant factor influencing behavioral and emotional characteristics of young animals. For horse husbandry a successful human-animal relationship is very important, because if horses are fearful of humans they are likely to be stressed whenever human contact is unavoidable.

Keywords

• foal, handling, behaviour, manageability